Bulls' James steps into spotlight

It's not quite Linsanity, the international buzz that Knicks guard Jeremy Lin created.

But there Mike James stood following Friday's practice, talking about everything from an inspirational book he wrote to being called "a jailhouse player" by Joakim Noah to growing up in Amityville, N.Y., the town that produced "The Amityville Horror" book and movie.

That's what happens when a fourth-string point guard takes the hard road to save his NBA career at age 36 and plays meaningful minutes in a nationally televised victory over the Celtics.

"I went from Ritz Carltons to Howard Johnsons," James said of playing in the Development League to start his NBA comeback. "But that didn't bother me at all."

Two sources said James will be signed to a second 10-day contract when his current 10-day expires. And it's possible James will be signed for the rest of the season, even when Derrick Rose returns from injury.

"I had opportunities to go to Europe," James said of his decision to attend last month's D-League Showcase in Nevada, where he caught the Bulls' eye. "But I wanted to end my career in the NBA."

Tom Thibodeau coached James in Houston, one of the many stops in his nine-year career.

"You know he will be ready when he is called upon," Thibodeau said.

Noah playfully spilled the beans about "Fight For Your Dreams," the book James had published in January 2010 detailing his overcoming adversity and nine trades to survive in the league. James said the book has been distributed in some New York City classrooms.

James said he takes the jailhouse description, which first landed on him in New Orleans in 2007, as "a person who doesn't take a lot of stuff."

As for the book, "people always told me I can't. I've always been able to use other people's words for fuel."

Sounds like another MJ from the Bulls.

Layups:Michael Jordan turned 49 on Friday. ... Bulls assistant Ron Adams will serve as coach for Team SHAQ in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday of All-Star weekend. The exhibition of top first- and second-year players will land Blake Griffin, Jeremy Lin and Ricky Rubio, among others, on Adams' squad. … Kyle Korver was excused from practice for a personal matter and will play Saturday.